Our Mission
We promote watercolor and water media as an important and recognized medium in the arts community and provides support as well as educational opportunities to watercolor artists - whether beginners or professionals.
We offer a variety of educational opportunities including eight (8) monthly meetings with demonstrations and lectures by renowned national or prominent local artists. In the Fall and Spring, we host three-day water media workshops with nationally recognized artists.
We recognize and encourage artistic excellence through juried exhibitions in the Fall and Spring.
Click to - Read more about JWS, Board and Committees, and History
Next General Meeting
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
6pm to 8pm
Guest Artist: LuAnn Dunkinson
"Sketch Along"
Cypress Village, Egret Room
LuAnn Dunkinson invites you to sketch along with her as she shares some of her experience and techniques from one of her two of her favorite pastimes - Plein Aire Painting and Urban Sketching.
"Urban sketching is the artistic practice of on-location drawing using various mediums selected by the artist. There are many Urban Sketching chapters throughout the world, therefore promoting its practice and connecting people worldwide who sketch on location where they live or travel. Our local chapter is Urban Sketcher Jacksonville (USK Jacksonville). You can find them on Facebook and Instagram."
"For our demo, we will be sketching from a photo and I will be using pen and ink with watercolor washes. I encourage you to sketch along! If you are planning to do this, please bring these simple materials:
---A small sketchbook (I usually use a Canson 10” x 7” when sketching out). If using watercolor washes, you will be more successful if its watercolor friendly paper.
---Waterproof pens, you can use any you like- Microns are good, or any fountain pens you like. I use a Duke 550, with a fude nib).
---A small travel watercolor set with a brush and a small water container."
LuAnn is the President of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society, after serving several years on the Board. She is also an active member of the First Coast Plein Aire Painters, Florida Watercolor Society, Jacksonville Artist Guild, St Augustine Art Association, and the Jacksonville Urban Sketchers. She’s won numerous awards for her watercolors, most notably The Cheap Joes Purchase Award at the Florida Watercolor Society’s 50Th Anniversary Show in 2021. There have also been several awards in Plein Aire painting, including the First Place Blue Ribbon at the St Mary’s Plein Aire Competition in 2022 and 2023.
She lives in Avondale with her husband, Andy, and beloved Great Dane, Heidi. After earning her BFA from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, she relocated and raised her two children in New Jersey. Then there was a yearlong trip around the world and a job offer that brought her to Jacksonville. She spent most of her professional career in Interior and Architectural Design. LuAnn's love of travel has inspired many of her award-winning paintings. Link to LuAnn's website.
Please note: Our general monthly meetings will be in a new location- Cypress Village, 4600 Middleton Park Cir E, Jacksonville, FL 32224 in the Egret Room.
Come early at 5:30 to socialize with fellow artists. Refreshments will be served.
To see more about monthly meetings, locations and upcoming schedule, click here.
Shows
2024 Spring Show
February 2 - February 25
Will be exhibited at the St Augustine Art Association South Gallery during February, 2024. Click on image to see full size page of award winners in 2024 Spring show.
Reminder: Pickup Sunday Feb 25 1 to 3 pm
Click to see more about this show and past shows in the Gallery
Non-Juried Members' Show
at Cypress Village, Egret Room
March 1 - 26, 2024
Click to see more about this show, location, dates, and how to enter.
2024 Student Show
JWS is excited to be hosting the student art show with Pine Forest Elementary School again this year. Click here to see more about this show and how to enter, and the gallery with paintings from last year's show.
Publications & Events
One-Day Workshop
Ted Head
"Portraits from the Heart"
Explore simplifying a portrait into its basic components. Use techniques such as feathering, lifting, wet-into-wet, lost and found edges, and more! Join us to improve your portrait painting skills and capture loved ones in watercolor. Come have some fun!
April 5, 2024 9:30am to 4:30pm
Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society
$95 members $125 non-members
To register and learn more about the workshop
Newsletter
Read the latest newsletter by clicking on the image of the cover to the right.
Click to
See more about our communications for members, the latest trifold and calendar of events, past newsletters, and links to websites of interest to members.
Artist of the Year - 2023
Pablo Rivera was honored as 2023 Artist of the Year, a once-in-a-lifetime award, for his service to JWS as well as his award winning talent in JWS juried shows. His special show, plaque, and pin are planned for Fall 2024 show and reception in Westbury Parish Hall, Christ Episcopal Church.
Click to See more about Pablo, AOTY award, guidelines for nomination, and previous recipients.
Donations
JWS recently received a generous donation in the name of a long term member who passed away. Over years, we have received other donations as well as art materials and supplies that honor past and current members. We appreciate the generous support of JWS and its mission. To help with future donations, we have provided instructions and contacts on our membership page. Please go to the bottom of the membership page for more information on donations.